Voluntary reductions in electricity consumption could save at most 100-200 MW, far below a potential peak-hour shortfall of up to 2,500 MW, according to Dumitru Chisalita, president of the Intelligent Energy Association (AEI).

His comments come after the Romanian government declared a nationwide energy alert for August due to declining electricity production caused by drought and historically low water levels on the Danube.

Chisalita argued that voluntary consumption cuts could not compensate for the scale of the expected deficit.

'Romania was already importing around 1,700 MW during evening peak hours. If the second unit at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant were also shut down, import requirements could exceed 2,500 MW, according to the prime minister's statements. If electricity demand rises because of the heatwave, another 700 MW would be needed. At the same time, drought is affecting neighbouring countries as well, so no one can guarantee that sufficient electricity will be available at the border precisely during critical hours,' he said.

According to the energy expert, the government is relying on voluntary reductions by institutions, households and businesses, but such measures have clear economic limits.

'A factory is not a light bulb that can be switched off at 8 p.m. and back on at 11 p.m. Industrial facilities operate technological processes that cannot be interrupted instantly without costs and risks,' Chisalita said, arguing that companies would bear production losses, contractual penalties and restart costs.

He added that, in well-functioning electricity systems, demand reduction programmes are arranged in advance and participating companies are compensated both for making capacity available and for the electricity they do not consume.

'Romania is trying to obtain the same service without paying for it. It is like asking a power plant to generate electricity for free, out of patriotism,' he said.

Chisalita estimated that voluntary reductions would amount to around 100-200 MW, with industry contributing 30-80 MW, public institutions and shopping centres 20-40 MW each, households 20-50 MW, while reductions in ornamental lighting, advertising lighting and other discretionary consumption could save 10-20 MW each.

'Even allowing for variations, we are talking about only 5-10% of a possible evening deficit of between 1,500 MW and 2,500 MW. Does it help? Yes. Does it solve the problem? Definitely not,' he said.

The AEI president argued that Romania should have established and contracted demand-response mechanisms before the current crisis, prioritising reductions among deferrable consumption and industrial processes that can be safely interrupted while protecting critical infrastructure such as hospitals, water supply systems, telecommunications, airports and essential energy facilities.

He also said the energy alert should have been accompanied by emergency contracts for demand-response services, payments to companies willing to reduce consumption and compensation for electricity not consumed.

Romanian authorities declared a nationwide energy alert for August after drought and exceptionally low river levels reduced electricity production, raising concerns over the operation of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant and increasing reliance on electricity imports. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Nicoleta Banciulea; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)